A new report shows that schools in England are in dire need of funding to repair falling infrastructure.
Defunding of schools had resulted in one in five schools requiring immediate repair work. Schools were also found not to have asbestos management plan, gas safety report and fire risk management
Nearly one in five schools in England were found to be in dire need of repair. These schools had elements such as windows, roofs and walls that were deemed to require immediate replacement or repair.
Schools in England facing a repair crisis
The information available involved 21,796 and included grading of the school condition. These schools were asked to grade their schools and a total of 1,313 gave their school a D. This was the worst possible grade that was available. The grade D was referred to as “life-expired and/or serious risk of imminent failure.” 705 schools graded two or more elements with a grade D while 69 schools had more than ten elements graded as a D.
These results showed the level of degradation of the schools’ infrastructure. Teachers were literally referring to these schools as crumbling around teachers and pupils. There were also more than 6,500 schools that gave a grade C for poor school conditions.
Many schools did not have asbestos management with 2,939 schools – 14% of the 20,854 respondents indicating they did not have an asbestos management plan. 13 percent said they did not have fire risk management, while 11 percent of the schools said they did not have a gas safety report.
The conditions have been getting worse, and in 2017, the National Audit Office (NAO) had warned that if £6.7bn($8.8 bn) were not provided, the situation would be dire in the coming years. This figure was an estimate and required addressing the rebuilding of older schools, with over 40 percent of the schools having been built between 1945 and 1975.
Both parties have promised to reform the education system and provide funds for repairing the schools in England. Labour Party indicated said that it was willing to give the required £7bn($9.2bn) for funding these repairs.
All parties promise drastic changes in the funding of education
Schools minister Nick Gibb, a conservative party member in a recent interview said,
A Conservative majority government would build on that record with £14bn over the next three years, and by increasing the minimum level of per-pupil funding in primary and secondary schools.
Addressing this issue has become a central part of the campaign, with all parties promising drastic changes in the funding of education and school infrastructure. Policymakers are also working to find solutions on how best to address this issue.
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